All by God's grace

 Deuteronomy 9:3

But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.

The Israelites were stubborn and rebellious people. Despite this, God highly regards his promised and therefore will fulfill it. His people were not pleasing for him but he still ushers them into victory. this also shows how graceful God is! Even today, we are no different but look! God is graceful and kind. He intends to keep his covenant even when we can't. Thank God! And he even made a way for us to fulfill our part - through Christ! God is so sovereign and indeed his ways are higher than ours. He alone can fathom these!

Deuteronomy 9:4-6

After the Lord your God has done this for you, don't say in your hearts, 'the Lord has given this land because we are such good people!' no, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God ill drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not - you are stubborn people.

What foes these verses teach us about God?

- God is a just God. He is so holy that he cannot let sinners go unpunished.

- Despite God showing justice and discipline to the world, He remembers his promised to his chosen people.

- Good works cannot save us. Even in the days of the old testament, it shows that God chose to save his stubborn people from enemy nations merely because they are his people and he remembers his promise. It's all by his grace!

Time and time again, God's chosen people disobeyed and rebelled against God, displeasing him to the point of almost destroying them. Moses even tried to persuade and plead with God. In one point of his frustration and anger (I presume) He smashed the stone tablets God entrusted him with. This was because while he was gone, the people made a golden calf as an idol. Despite all this, God listened to Moses and gave his people another chance, not completely destroying them at least.

Who are we today? Are we Moses? God's servant who goes between and pleads with God? Who also tries to lead the people to God? Or re we the stubborn Israelites?

Whichever season we may be in, let's be thankful for Christ being our redeemer, mediator between us and God. He was able to bring Moses' role to a whole new level and even better! And despite his hardships, he remained perfect and sinless. It really is all by God's grace.

Journal entry May 15, 2021